Driving your ambition in the UAE and beyond. Expert assurance, advisory, and tax solutions, powered by global scale and local market intelligence.
60+
Years in the UAE
30+
Partners
3
UAE Offices

International client programs

Learn more about our international initiatives

China desk

Helping Chinese businesses navigate the Middle East with strategic advice on partnerships, market entry and cross-border operations, backed by deep regional insight.

Global growth hub

Supporting high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses of Indian origin with tailored guidance on market entry, regulatory compliance and sustainable growth in the UAE.

    Read the latest insights

    IFRS 20 – Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities: A new era in accounting for rate‑regulated activities

    IFRS Alert

    IFRS 20 – Regulatory Assets and Regulatory Liabilities: A new era in accounting for rate‑regulated activities

    4 min read |

    No better time than now

    Why families with a long horizon should be establishing a meaningful presence in the UAE right now

    Grant Thornton UAE works directly with globally mobile families who have capital, operating businesses, and long horizons. This article is not a defense or an assessment of the UAE. It is an assessment of the risks and opportunities that exist within the UAE for families with serious capital. In this article, I will be clear about where risk exists. But I will also be clear about what the data shows, how future-focused families typically respond in periods of uncertainty, and why I believe that for families with a genuine long-term horizon, this is a compelling time to establish a meaningful presence in the UAE.

    | 10 min read |

    IFRS for real estate

    AUDIT

    At its core, IFRS 15 replaces old, industry-driven shortcuts with a single, principles-based framework built around the transfer of control, not billing milestones or legacy practices. In real estate, that distinction is not academic—it is fundamental. A signed sales agreement, a down payment received, or even regulatory registration does not automatically translate into revenue as these are pre-requisites for revenue recognition. The question is always sharper: has control of the asset, or the value being created, truly been transferred to the customer? Read our article to learn more.

    13 min read |

    The evolving role of the CRO: how AI is reshaping risk management

    ARTICLE

    The CRO role is expanding from regulatory compliance to strategic influence, with AI reshaping how risk is identified, measured, and governed. This article explores how the mandate is evolving and why governance is the defining challenge for risk leaders.

    5 min read |

    Contract cost optimisation and efficiency from an Internal Audit lens

    AUDIT

    Contract value is often lost after signature. This article explores how Internal Audit strengthens post-award oversight to protect value, improve cost efficiency, and ensure contracts deliver as intended.

    5 min read |

    MEDIA

    Hisham Farouk named one of the Top 50 leaders and CEOs of 2026

    09 Jul 2026

    Gulf Business has profiled the Top 50 most influential MENA leaders and CEOs, whose decisions and business acumen are shaping the future of business across the region. They are driving transformation, elevating industries, and defining a more ambitious, dynamic and globally connected MENA region.

    Scaling with confidence: What D33 means for business leaders

    20 May 2026

    Scaling with confidence: What D33 means for business leaders. Featuring insights from Hisham Farouk, CEO, Grant Thornton UAE. Dubai’s Economic Agenda (D33) is redefining how organisations scale—shifting the focus from fast growth to disciplined, well‑governed expansion. Drawing on insights from Hisham Farouk, CEO of Grant Thornton UAE, this article explores how D33’s ambition to double Dubai’s economy is driving businesses to strengthen governance, enhance risk management, and align strategy with a rapidly evolving market. As digital innovation accelerates, leaders who embed strong oversight, accountability and structured decision‑making will be best positioned to scale confidently and sustainably in the UAE.

    Closing the climate compliance gap

    13 May 2026

    Featuring insights from Anand Balasubramanian, Partner – Head of Risk and Compliance Advisory, Grant Thornton UAE. In a featured article for Gulf Business Anand Balasubramanian explores how the UAE’s new Climate Change Law marks a shift in the region’s approach to emissions reporting—moving it from a voluntary ESG exercise to a regulatory and governance imperative for organisations operating in the UAE.